“Hall of Shame” Calls Out California Legislators Most Out of Step With Constituent Priorities

CALIFORNIA -- Today, the California-based Courage Campaign and Presente.org announced the launch of a Spanish-language version of The People’s Report Card of California. The project is the work of a diverse coalition which also includes the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action, Progressive Kick, and ColorOfChange.

The new website and campaign tool lets voters throughout California evaluate their state legislators voting records by giving all Californians access to their elected officials’ “Courage Score,” a rating of each legislator’s willingness to stand up for their constituents against corporate benefactors and special interest groups that exploit Californians.

The website features a legislator “Hall of Shame,” which includes those Assemblymembers and State Senators who are most out of step with their constituents, and most closely aligned with corporate and special interests that exploit Californians. To make this list, a legislator needed to have a Courage Score of 59 or lower -- resulting in a grade of “F” -- and represent a district that clearly supports more progressive policies than the legislator. Each Hall of Shame profile features the member’s top corporate contributors, as well as a narrative describing how each elected official failed his or her constituents. The Hall of Shame includes: